Wearable Tech: Fun Borg-ish stuff is coming your way

You’ve probably heard about the Internet enabled watch, Google glasses, FitBit and the inflatable crash helmet for bicycles. These are but early examples of a whole range of wearable tech poised to enter the commercial market and/or art collections of the well-heeled and discerning world-wide. “Maker” culture is alive and well in this context with designers young and old experimenting with ways to bring useable, fun, definitely creative and potentially transformational tech (and art) into our lives. Given how we’ve bonded so intimately with our devices to date it seems only natural to expand the connection (and both the real estate, palette or physical canvas if you prefer) in new ways through our clothing, accessories and other ‘wearables’.

Kate Hartman, a teacher and ‘maker’ in her own right, spoke recently to a gathering sponsored by Shopify and hosted by Toronto’s Mozilla Hive (see bio link below). She noted that, from an artistic perspective, there were three ‘hot’ themes in this context: expressing ideas, creating dialogue and asking questions: a form first approach. Intriguingly, from a traditional tech perspective, she didn’t make solving problems, identifying service gaps and/or developing new market niches/demand - all of which are so central to both the business and consumer communities – central to her talk. These demand a function first approach.

Kate’s focus was on the interaction between people: the new forms of communication that could be achieved or enhanced, the emotion and personality that could be expressed through the marriage of art and tech in a ‘wearables’ context. She showcased simple craft materials combined with tech i.e. LED brightened, magnet-enabled clip on strips to make you visible at night – great for runners, cyclists and fashionistas; felt hats fitted with flexible armature wire easily customizable any time to express your mood, movement, connectedness or sense of style; cuffs that make sounds or connect to your tablet; ‘nudgeables’ – discrete electrical ping devices to share with a friend (to let them know it’s time to leave the party or share a private joke) and non-traditional textiles featuring expandable/collapsible shoulder pads (reminiscent of Jurassic Park dinosaurs who flare their collars just before they attack).

Those who find themselves dealing with very sophisticated but ‘closed box’ tech every day were invited to consider the possibilities of opening that box, breaking down the components into useable chunks and letting their curiosity and imaginations have at it! The very idea that you could open that closed box and play with the stuff inside was liberating. The idea that simple thinking, simple design and limited ‘maker’ skills could be combined with tech to build something neat was freeing and inspiring. It works particularly well if you define ‘tech’ broadly to include magnets, batteries and LED lights as well as 3D Printers, computer components and associated apps.

We seem to be on a tipping point - just before you’ll be seeing a whole range of wearable tech in both stores and art galleries near you. Whether kitschy or cool, low tech or seriously high tech, new designs will be appearing in myriad, interesting combinations. Each one will be vying for a place in your closet, on your body and/or in your heart. Very Borg!

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This blog covers topics in the IT orbit and community of practice but is not technical in nature (hence quasi - technical or ...
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This blog covers topics in the IT orbit and community of practice but is not technical in nature (hence quasi - technical or Quazi-Tek). It will reflect thoughts, information, strategy and advice with a "soft skills" focus that might be of value to managers or individuals working in and with technology.
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